Trailer hitch and support



Sept 7,'1943- M. L sENsENlG 2,328,850

rRAILER BITCH AND SUPPORT Filed March 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Q4-STATE Patented Sept; 7, `1943.

i N i' .A 2,328,850 C 'mAmEnrnTCHAN-nfsorponfrl fi 14Milles Lancaster, Fa,.assi`gnor to f DelllgrManufacl-,ilrngCompany, Lanaster-f l (i l 4 Pa.; a corporation of Pennsylvania i j v meenemen Maren is, 1943,=sevie1zr.1\.q.z

i freetime; geneest-sani vmeen-nen relates te e trailer hte-n and support Eand the combination thereof witha contural-. apparatus, thoughit'is capable `of use in other `employing` oonveyerl equipped imple; z. mentsof various' sorts- In connection with agri-A -yClltllral implernentsr itnds its` primary yIield of use in connection with ensilage elitters` and sin1" ilar implements which areto be drawn-ever close anelito` provide a pair of. shafts or tonguelatltle jg-front'and by which the implement mightbe drawn about by means of a horseor horses ora tractor, lontV this construction has `resulted in the shaft or tongue and frequently the front wheels f 1,le,extendingwellbeyond'the front end of the movimoult, land. oft-times lirnpraotical,` `to unload the eigens,y either by forkingorlotherwisediretly g onto' the. traveling ta'lolev or 'oonveyer ioec'anhse` the wagonscannot get close enoughyto the frpntpor- 'ion of the implement duetointerierenceicythej 30 he primary obiects" ofzthe" present invention rief implement, `that is, the frentwheeis; with ssoiat-ed` parts andthe `shafts ortongue con-f` ted with` said aglej 4tofe,liIrlrriate theinterfernoeo the'front wheels and the shafts Qrtllgue Wheniunloading `the wagons bringing, up the raw f material, suchas green stalks of corn to loe out mto'ensilage; to provideahitchserving' the dual" e functions, alternately, efe a Vclraw tongue for the 1in-1plenient while being prille@ by said tongue or `fhiteh from place to'iplaoe as from the implement for operation; to so fer-m, construct, "and com-` ine the several par-ts ofthe hitch `that inv both lement thatwhenwthe i1nplem-enty sei-,Fup `for ing"` talileor vconveyerand Inaknglitsawkwaird or "wshedjto 'thesilq orvironione farn `to another;`

r* of" ajsulpporting `Jael; egrleg when i the, imple-M45 mentiras arrivedatthe silo ami,hasfheen` rsetupi, Y l

, ff. their operative relative positions theyfwill y A properly support the front portion of Vsaicl implep and resistthe. downward thrustof "the f Iweiglfrtl` of *said implement; to so'fo-rrn `andconf v l 1 `fthe hitch and ,so` combine it with the'A i111-,

eeross; from; ef the 4 I ,l pleinert'and only spaceda'si'ew inehesora foot in iront portionloffthe implement to the end that'the irioved from either'fofits two operative `positions into its other of saidftwo operative positions and "function ineither of' its two `operative positions `of"`sal'(im'plementbr of its eonveyerjf i n' Figure 1 represents aside elevation -of` en- ;jzack or slipportorithe (front `ivortioniofqthe Y implement; H f

" `Figure 3,- ga fside eleva-tier.;` 44of, the f ,"ybars, broken avv`a`yA of said implementandoithe `said .progressiveli.r.ntermfwliate.positions;j and l im@ position illustrate@ in Figure 3, thev `irene portion of the ccnveyer, g'brolen away, being eyer `suppkarting' or vtensi-oninff "rollerfwhieh `is shown ingiottedlines. l i

` Referring now `,inv detail tical "webs B Vhaving"substantially perpendicular eflanges b. An endless band, conveyerlbfmaylhe 1` disposed m saidfrriplernene between ,said side 50 bars `anc; travell'over or aboii'tl roller C"`mnted @one shaftc journaled lnsitable hearings f thefii'entportion of the respective Side harsand` e "inay be driven by any usualandsuitahlefreans not" niueftrated moeten ner described lieten onto the movingY table or" conveyer Voi't'he Liiiplement with the greatest of ease and facilityto "provide such a hitch 'which maybe moved loyone l man `alonefrem either position to the other position; and tosc combine thehitchthat'itlmayhe withoutinterfering in anywaywithrthgoperation p 1lage"`cutterwith ahitchembodying myinveni '.'tlon z ntpli'ed`"thereto,V thesaidhitch being illustratediin it`s"position -whereinitfunctions as` a :Figure 2, `a];perspeftive view off-saidwhi-tch-gin ly e e e e ""pposton illustratedin Figurenl andalsontotwo heir connecting axle and its fifth ,wheel `andA` e 35 Figurefl, a top plan view of the sicle" bars ofthe` u implementand `o f the hitch when in,"thewsolid` shown in top `plan `-oetween' the "iront Lpportions of said bars' and extending about the'irontmcone e e "tofthedrawingeu rles-` igriafes en wiege cuttelz, Qryoiher implement] s orgapparatus] having4 Aside bars foifrneflwith ver` hereninasriluch as theyforin nopartfjniy pres- Cil,

kpair or .similar butpreferably shorter angle iron or steel sections having, vertical webs 3 and horizontal webs v6 perpendicular `to webs 3, a. strap,v -rnetal yoke 9 which'may be of V shape and which preferably includes 'or comprises a pair of clevis plates Ill Welded preferably to the acute angle portion of the V and formed with resiste-fins il" vertically inclined, near voi-tical, position, the

holes il to receive the usual connecting or clevis pin' or bolt, not shown.

- Pivot pins 4-passing throughtilerear orupper end portions ofthe vertical webs I serve to secure the rst mentioned pair' of 'angle irons, which' may well be termed leg orshank bars. vor rods., :I Y to the side bars respectively of the implementtfor vertical swinging' motion relative thereto witlr the inner faces of the respective legor shankbars or rods adjacent'to and practicallyparallelto,but

' slightly spa'cedirorn; the ver-tical outer tfaces of ltherespective vertical-webs Bjfof saidlsidebars L and .with horzontalflanges. 12Min, similar relation `toithe"respective;horizontal yilanges b of said side bam l l n In turn pivot pin 8 passing through theforward Aend v'portions of the lvertical v velosI l Aof said leg or'shank" irons and the medial portionsortho vvertical webs 3 of the -shorterangle irons which may well be referred to asknee irons respective4 1 fserve-zto pivotally Yconnect the respective" shank orlle'g irons to the'respectivel knee. irons with the vertical web3 of theg-knee .irons interposed-in part between the forwarden'ds ofJthefrespective' leg or shankirons andjlthe outerfaces' of Vthe-vertical?. webs 'B' ofthe respective side` bars and in, wf or practically in', rubbing contacttherewith; and withthe respective horizontal webs," orthe websli..

Y vvl5 'perpendicular to they webs 3; of said` knee "irons ,having theirreai-portions interposedbetween l the upper 4`faces of the respectivey horizontal flanges? of thesharrkfironsl` and'thelovvenfaces kof theho'rizontalv flanges bofthe respective side bars'of the implement and int'supporting'contact `with the under face of'saidlhorizontal: anfges b `of. said respective side bars.'V f i f The rear or Qotherwiseopen "endofthe yoke B li'asjthe, irere. end portionsofthe arrnsjof thejV secured to the front portions of .the Vknee irons,

` preferablyby having thek respective reef'endsof said yoke. weldedv tothe outer. faces .ofV the jfront portionsofthe' yvertical webs 3j of the .respective fvknee irons. z '.'Ifrieyoke's strap'fnietal Yhaving their rear free end portions securd,'asb-yweldinglto-the'outer Vfaces ofthe vertical Awebs 3 of the-respective knee irons'ar'di-'A [having their frontend portionsf'preferably arroay 'befoonstructed oftvvo legsof ranged in'sp'aced relationincontact` with the Aol)- posedfaces of aspacer biock;.which in turn, to- .;gether'with said forwardends Y tween` the clevis plates A'l U, s `block .and forward end-por'tlons all beinggwelded .together by a single welding operation.: Q.

f ..1t-Willjoeseeii from rigorose and i and the .foregoing description that the `composite `hitch A n1 ayj1ex or; fold downward from its horizontal yfsolid lineposition r illustrated in lig.l 3, butxthat cannotinove upward relative to the'sidebarsof theiirnplement .beyondjsuch horizontal positionand that itvvill,v supportand carrythe weight.

of the forward end of the implement duringthe ragging of the latter from point to point. Braces 5 respectively are welded to the upper or rear portions of the vertical webs I' of the shank or leg irons at acute angles of approximately forty-five degrees relative to theV edges of the respective webs l abovev or to the rear of then upper free ends of said braces 5 will contact .the .low er `faces of the respective horizontal webs V"b of the respective side bars of the implement, 'whereby further swinging movement in that direction will beprevented, and, thefshank irons ,"having swung beyond true vertical or dead center,

, the 4weight. of the forward end of theimplement on the pivot pins d will prevent reverse swinging,

movement, thusftheknee irons willbepositioned in'adenite location relativeto the pivot pins anfdiwill afford'a'large area supportingpad bear- .ing-v on the ground and supporting the yweight of the forward'end of the implement-and 'being free 'o to'fswing slightly about the axis of'its pivot-pinion rodV 8 to accommodate itself to possible inequalisurface upon which ties or incline of theground theledges of the webs lfof the respective leg or shank irons toprevent the--` possible bending'or spreading 'ofv said shank` irons or to strengthen them to-help resist possible bending or spreading tendencies. f f

`1`-."`For use with "a `vehicle having a 'frame in cluding metal side'bars formed with laterally outwardlypresenteolflanges` extending at an abrupt angle-from the upperwportions of said sidebars respectively, a trailer-hitch and support comprising `-a pair of' shank irons "to b e pivotally con" nected Vt li rcug h` their respective'rear portionsI to the said respective sidebars, a pair of knee irons respectively lpivotally connected at'their medial portionsto the frontportiorns' of said respective 'shank irons and disposed between the latter and said .vehicle frame, agyokelhavingarms respeta f tivelyiconnected'toythejforward portions of said respective knee irons,"s'aid` respective; knee irons .being overlapped on said respective shankv ironsv .,v'and respectively vformed with laterally `outwardly.

' extending iianges interposed between said respectiveshank irons .andsaid side bar flangesy andengagin'g the latter vinlthetrailer-hitch' operative position of lthe. parts, and braces .respectively vsra- .cured tothe respective shank irons' to engage said lateral flanges respectively ofthe respective Aside bars to prevent rearward swinging move` ment of said sharlklirons beyond a predetermined point .past the true vertical, said knee irons being swingable on their pivotal connectionsto said' shank irons to present theirtlaterally outwardly extending flanges downwardly to constitute ya rel Y atively large area supporting' knee to, togetherr -withsaid shank ironsgsupport the iront portion of said vehicle whenthe same is stationary and disconnected vfrom drait means, f.: '2. Avehicle having a frame including metal sidebars formed withlaterally outwardly presented iiange's extendingat an abrupt angle, from the upper portions.v ofsaid: side bars respectively and lprovided. with an endless band conveyer Ybelt 'of said conveyer belt,` a pair of'kneejirons `re` j "spectively pivotally connected `at theinmedial t 9 `portions to the front portions of` said respective"` "shank irons and disposed between the latter and said vehiclel frame, a yoke having arms respec- `tively connected to the forward lportions of said respective knee irons, said `respective kneeirons i; Qbeing overlapped on said respective shank irons y j and i respectively formedV with` laterallyouta/iardpective shank irons andffsaidl side `bari flanges together'with Vsaid shank irons'support the front tionaryand disconnected'from draft means.

irons respectively* pivotallyconnected at their respective "kneetirons, said respective knee` irons `wardly extending anges, and)"braces'yrespec- "ment` of said shank `irons, beyond a predeterhrough` their respective rear portionsto the` res s s l; y $2,328,850 `operating lengthwise of\ andbetween saidside bars, in combination with a trailerhitchzand'supn port comprising a pair of shank ironspivotally ly,extending` `flanges interposed between said rei and engaging the latter in the `trai1erlhitchop`-` f erative position of `the partsand braces respecf tively secured to theprespective shank "irons"I tovr engage said lateral flanges respectively of there#` `spective side `bars to prevent rearward* swinging .i

irons being Vswingahle on their pivotal connections tosaid shank irons to'present their laterally outngvvardlyV extending flanges downwardly `toconsti- 4tute) a relatively" largearea supporting knee to portion ofsaidvehicle" `when the lsamepis vsta-.1`

l s 3 A` trailer-hitchiand support comprising .af "pair lof shank irons 'tobepivotallyggconneoted through their respective rear, portionsfto the re" `fispective side bars `of 'a vehicle, a'A pairlof `knee medialfportions to 4thelfront vportions `of said 1re-, 1` spective shank ironsayoke having armsrespec tively connected `to thefforward portions j1;of4 said 140, `being respectivelyl;formed with: laterally "out' tivelyVV secured to the respectiveshankirons to,l f ngageportions oftherespectivef sidebars of:` aid vehicle to prevent rearward `swinging moveV 'LA` trailer-hitchandl support comprisiiigpa airg` of. shank irons-tc` be pivotallyconnected i r spective sideb-ars of a vehiele,:a` pair of knee irons respectively {pivotally connected i at their i medial portions to` the front portions of said respective shank irons, azyokehaving arms re- K f spectively connected to the forwardportions of said respective knee irons, andstop means respectively secured to the respective shank irons the true vertical, said 4knee irons being swingfable` on their pivotal `connections to said shankY 1 irons to `:lie Substantially parallel to and in con- "tact with alfsupporting surface.

` 5,'Aftrailer-hitch` nd "support comprising `a pair foif angle-iron shank irons; to be pivotally connected by their respective rear ,portions to ,j-fthej respective side bars of` a `vehicle frame,Y a

" pair `of angle iron` knee irons respectively piv-` otally connected at theirsmedial portions to the 20' front portions of saidV respective shank irons,

, a yoke having arms respectively connected to the ,forward portions `of said respective" knee ironsbrace means permanently connecting said 'shank irons and holding them in proper spaced prevent rearward swinging `movement of said* t thetrue vertical., i 30 connectedfby `theirvrespective rear portions "to fthe supportingrbars of a vehicle frame, a` pair` of langle iron knee` irons respectively pivotally i 35 connected-at their `medial portionstofthe" front portions of said respective shankirons, ua yoke wardjportions ,of saidrespective knee irons, and

tive shankirons to prevent rearward` swingingu `movement ofsaid shank irons beyond a prede- *ftermined point` past the truevertical," j

pair of shank members to be pivotally connected portions to the front portionsof saidishank rmembfers, a yoke having arms'respectively Acon- 50 nectedto the forwardportionsof"said respective `knee members, and stoptmeans to be interposed f betweenjone of said rigidmembersgand one of stop swinging movement of `said shank member at a predetermined point krelative to said `rigid to prevent rearward swinging movement of said i shank" irons `beyond a `predetermined point past s relation to each other, and stop meansrespec-y tivelyrsecured `to the respective shank irons to, i f

shank irons beyond-a predetermined point past i `6. Afnemer-hitch and support comprising a, pair l of` angle-iron shank irons to be pivotally:

having arms respectively connected to` the forstop means Yrespectively secured tothe res`pec` 7. A trailer-hitch and support` comprising an;

by their respective rear portions to rigid mem-f` ffi bers of arvehicle framea pair of knee members" minedfpoint' past `the true vertical, saidkneem l: respetvelypivotauy Connected@ their medial 1` @irons being .swingable on their pivotal "connec-AI `tions "to said shank irons i, to presentfthir ulate i l ,lerally outwardly extending flanges downwardly"` to `constitute a relatively large area supporting 1 i `1 kneetotogether withsaid shank 1irons;support` 1 fthe front portion of said vehicle `vvlrien the same r s "is stationaryV and disconnectedjjfrom draft' `saidfshankmembers"to` cooperate therewithgto L, sENsENIG. Y 

